Stock market capitalization at 51% of GDP

Vietnam’s securities market capitalization has reached nearly VND2.2 trillion ($101 billion), an increase of 18 per cent compared to the end of 2016 and equivalent to 51 per cent of GDP, according to a report from the Ministry of Finance.

On March 31 the VN-Index stood at 722.31 points, up 8.6 per cent since the end of last year. Total trade in the first quarter was VND7.58 trillion ($333.6 million), 9.7 per cent higher than last year’s quarterly average.

Trade in government bonds reached VND4 trillion ($176.4 million) per session, up 0.4 per cent, while trade in stocks and fund certificates was VND3.57 trillion ($157.4 million) per session, up 22.4 per cent.

As at March 31, the total amount of bonds issued was VND87.1 trillion ($3.84 billion), of which government bonds totaled VND56.5 trillion ($2.46 billion), representing 30.8 per cent of the plan, government bonds for Vietnam Social Insurance VND15 trillion ($661.5 million), and guaranteed government bonds VND15.6 trillion ($688 million).